In biblical literature, "coals" often symbolize purification, judgment, and divine presence. The imagery of coals is used in various contexts throughout the Bible, reflecting both physical and spiritual dimensions.

Purification and Divine Presence

One of the most significant references to coals is found in the vision of the prophet Isaiah. In Isaiah 6:6-7 , a seraphim touches Isaiah's lips with a live coal taken from the altar, symbolizing purification and the removal of sin: "Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. And with it he touched my mouth and said: 'Now that this has touched your lips, your iniquity is removed and your sin is atoned for.'" This passage highlights the transformative power of divine intervention, where coals serve as a medium for cleansing and consecration.

Judgment and Destruction

Coals are also associated with God's judgment and wrath. In Psalm 18:12-13 , coals are depicted as part of a theophany, illustrating God's power and anger: "From the brightness of His presence, His clouds advanced—hailstones and coals of fire. The LORD thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded—hailstones and coals of fire." Here, coals of fire accompany the divine manifestation, emphasizing the intensity and severity of God's judgment upon the wicked.

Similarly, in Ezekiel 10:2 , coals are used in a vision of judgment against Jerusalem: "And the LORD said to the man clothed in linen, 'Go inside the wheelwork beneath the cherubim. Fill your hands with coals of fire from among the cherubim and scatter them over the city.'" This act symbolizes the impending destruction and purification of the city through divine judgment.

Symbol of Retribution

In the New Testament, coals are used metaphorically to describe acts of kindness towards one's enemies. Romans 12:20 quotes Proverbs 25:21-22, saying, "On the contrary, 'If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.'" This metaphor suggests that acts of kindness can lead to repentance and transformation, as the "burning coals" represent a moral awakening or conviction of conscience.

Worship and Sacrifice

Coals also play a role in the context of worship and sacrifice. In the Old Testament, coals were used on the altar for burning incense, as seen in Leviticus 16:12-13 : "Then he is to take a censer full of burning coals from the altar before the LORD, and two handfuls of finely ground fragrant incense, and bring them inside the veil. He is to put the incense on the fire before the LORD, and the cloud of incense will cover the mercy seat above the Testimony, so that he will not die." The use of coals in this context underscores their role in facilitating communication and communion with God through sacrificial offerings.

Conclusion

Throughout the Bible, coals serve as a powerful symbol of God's presence, judgment, and the potential for purification and transformation. Whether in visions of divine glory or in the context of worship, coals represent the dynamic interaction between the divine and the human, illustrating themes of holiness, justice, and mercy.439. anthrakia -- a heap of burning coals
... a heap of burning coals. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: anthrakia
Phonetic Spelling: (anth-rak-ee-ah') Short Definition: a heap of burning ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/439.htm - 6k

440. anthrax -- coal, charcoal
... Word Origin a prim. word Definition coal, charcoal NASB Word Usage coals (1). coal
of fire. Of uncertain derivation; a live coal -- coal of fire. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/440.htm - 6k

2369. thumiaterion -- altar of incense, a censer
... altar of incense Definition: (ordinarily: censer, but) either the altar of incense,
or the shovel, on which the high-priest poured the coals, when he entered ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2369.htm - 6k

6352. pecham -- coal
... 6351, 6352. pecham. 6353 . coal. Transliteration: pecham Phonetic Spelling:
(peh-khawm') Short Definition: coals. Word ... coals. Perhaps ...
/hebrew/6352.htm - 5k

1513. gechel -- coal
gechel or gacheleth. 1512, 1513. gechel or gacheleth. 1514 . coal. Transliteration:
gechel or gacheleth Phonetic Spelling: (geh'-khel) Short Definition: coals ...
/hebrew/1513.htm - 6k

3595. kiyyor -- pot, basin
... Or kiyor {kee-yore'}; from the same as kuwr; properly, something round (as excavated
or bored), ie A chafing-dish for coals or a caldron for cooking; hence ...
/hebrew/3595.htm - 6k

784. esh -- a fire
... root Definition a fire NASB Word Usage blazing (1), burned* (1), burning (1), burning
coals (1), fiery (1), fire (362), fires (2), flame (1), flaming (3 ...
/hebrew/784.htm - 6k

4289. machtah -- a fireholder, censer, snuff dish
... censer, firepan, snuffdish. The same as mchittah in the sense of removal; a pan
for live coals -- censer, firepan, snuffdish. see HEBREW mchittah. 4288, 4289 ...
/hebrew/4289.htm - 6k

Third Sunday after Epiphany
... me; I will recompense, saith the Lord.20 But if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if
he thirst, give him to drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol ii/third sunday after epiphany.htm

John Chapter xxi. 12-19.
... It is related above that these disciples, when they came to the land, "saw a fire
of coals laid, and a fish laid thereon, and bread." Here we are not to ...
/.../augustine/homilies on the gospel of john/tractate cxxiii john chapter xxi.htm

Still Another Triplet
... Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him: if he thirst, give him drink; for
in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.21. ...
/.../romans corinthians to ii corinthians chap v/still another triplet 4.htm

System of the Magicians; Incantations of Demons; Secret Magical ...
... the incense. But (that paper) which the inquirer happens to have written
(upon), having placed on the coals, he has burned. Then ...
/.../hippolytus/the refutation of all heresies/chapter xxviii name of the.htm

Psalm CXX.
... For He answers following up his own inquiry, "even sharp arrows of the Mighty One,
with coals that desolate, or that lay waste" (ver.4). They that desolate, or ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cxx.htm

But if any have Endured Much violence and the Strong Pressure of ...
... into their mouths to keep them open, and then the tyrants poured wine down their
throats, or threw into them pieces of meat; or putting hot coals into their ...
/.../peter/the writings of peter of alexandria/canon xiv but if any.htm

Imitations of Thunder, and Other Illusions.
... Placing a cauldron full of pitch upon burning coals, when it boils up, (though)
laying their hands down upon it, they are not burned; nay, even while walking ...
/.../the refutation of all heresies/chapter xxxii imitations of thunder and.htm

Psalm 18
... and from his mouth there came. Devouring fire, and coals by it. were turned into
flame. ... His thick clouds pass'd away, hailstones. and coals of fire did fly. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/anonymous/scottish psalter and paraphrases/psalm 18.htm

The King --Continued.
... The firmest things shake, the loftiest bow before His wrath. "There went up smoke
out of his nostrils, and fire out of his mouth devoured; coals were kindled ...
//christianbookshelf.org/maclaren/the life of david/x the kingcontinued.htm

With those Also Who, as it were from Sleep...
... and draw upon themselves the temptations as it were of a sea-fight, and the inundations
of many waves, or rather are for the brethren kindling the coals of the ...
/.../peter/the writings of peter of alexandria/canon ix with those also.htm

Coals (28 Occurrences)
...Coals (28 Occurrences). John 18:18 Now the servants and the officers were standing
there, having made a fire of coals, for it was cold. ...
/c/coals.htm - 14k

Broom-coals (1 Occurrence)
Broom-coals. Broom-bush, Broom-coals. Broom-plant . Multi-Version
Concordance Broom-coals (1 Occurrence). Psalms 120 ...
/b/broom-coals.htm - 6k

Coal (7 Occurrences)
... In Lamentations 4:8 the expression "blacker than a coal" is literally rendered in
the margin of the Revised Version "darker than blackness." "Coals of fire" (2 ...
/c/coal.htm - 14k

Firepan (2 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. FIREPAN. fir'-pan (machtah, "firepan," "censer,"
"snuffdish," from chathah, "to snatch up"): A vessel for carrying coals. ...
/f/firepan.htm - 9k

Cold (25 Occurrences)
... It is merely a bed of coals in an iron vessel. ... John 18:18 Now the servants and the
officers were standing there, having made a fire of coals, for it was cold. ...
/c/cold.htm - 18k

Flamed (4 Occurrences)
... Flamed (4 Occurrences). 2 Samuel 22:9 There went up a smoke out of his nostrils,
And fire out of his mouth devoured: Coals were kindled by it. (See JPS RSV). ...
/f/flamed.htm - 7k

Blazed (9 Occurrences)
... Fire out of his mouth devoured. Coals were kindled by it. (See NIV). 2 Samuel
22:13 At the brightness before him, coals of fire were kindled. (See NIV). ...
/b/blazed.htm - 8k

Blazing (27 Occurrences)
... (See NAS). Psalms 11:6 On the wicked he will rain blazing coals; fire, sulfur,
and scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. (WEB). ...
/b/blazing.htm - 14k

Flames (54 Occurrences)
... fire are jumping up. (BBE DBY YLT). Job 41:21 His breath kindleth coals,
and a flame goeth out of his mouth. (See NIV). Psalms 7:13 ...
/f/flames.htm - 22k

Vehement (10 Occurrences)
... of Songs 8:6 Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love
is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are ...
/v/vehement.htm - 11k

What is the significance of burning coals in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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Coals: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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